Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry has invited companies to bid by 25 September for an estimated SR5bn ($1.3bn) contract to build a network of 15 call centres throughout the kingdom.

At least five contracting groups have purchased bid documents. They include:

• Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting Company (local)/L3 Communications (US)
• Advanced Electronics Company (local)
• Al-Latifia Trading & Contracting (local)
• Saudi Binladin Group (local)
• Saudi Oger (local)

The call centres are part of a larger government initiative to establish a communication network for emergency operations and services in Saudi Arabia.

The project requires contractors with experience of working on high-tech telecommunications projects. Construction contractors are expected to seek communications counterparts to achieve the advanced technical aims of the project, says one local contractor.

The technical part of the project includes operation and maintenance of advanced systems for surveillance, security and emergency operations.

The Saudi government aims to link the centres using the most advanced communications network ever seen in the kingdom, says the contractor.

The deal comes just weeks after the Interior Ministry issued its largest ever tender to build a network of security compounds (MEED 24:6:10).  

The contract covers the construction, operation and maintenance of 28 different types of facilities, to be built at 41 locations throughout the country.

Commercial and technical bids for the the SR22bn deal are due on 26 July.